Thompson



(No Model.)

G W THOMPSON SAFETY TUNNEL WARNING DEVICE.

No. 498,328. Patented May 30, 1893.,

E nomus mans ca. PHOTO-L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WASHINGTON THOMPSON, OF LEADVILLE, COLORADO.

SAFETY TUNNEL WARNING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,328, dated May 30, 1893.

Application filed March '7, 1893' Serial No. 464,950.

for tunnels, low bridges, and other obstructions upon the lines of railroads, Whose height will not permit of train-men standing upright upon the tops of box cars.

Heretofore it has been the practice to employ a warning device consisting of a supporting frame from the cross-bar or cap of which depends a series of ropes or cords. A strong wind, or the exhaust of an engine, is liable to throw the ropes or cords up and cause them to catch over the said cross-bar or cap, in which position they cannot perform their function of warning trainmen that an obstruction is ahead.

The object of my invention is to provide a warning device which will not be open to the above objection, but which will maintain its operative position under all circumstances, and thus provide a substantial and permanent means of disclosing the proximity of a tunnel, low bridge, 850.

Further objects andadvantages of my invention will appear in the following descrip-' tion, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a warning device embodying my invention, arranged in the operative position adjacent to the mouth of a tunnel. Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the rigid arms to show the manner of attaching the cords or ropes thereto.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the views.

l designates a supporting frame-work, of the usual construction, having the uprights 2 and the cap or cross-bar 3. Depending from this cap or cross -bar is a series of rigid arms 4, preferably of metal but which may be of any other suitable material, as wood, 50., which will preserve its pendent position (Nomodeh) under pressure of wind, 850. These arms may be secured to the cap or cross-bar in any pro ferredmanner, but in the construction illustrated I employ nuts 5 and 6, threaded upon the arms near their upper ends, and arranged to engage the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the cap or cross-bar. The arms are provided with flexible extensions 7, preferably of cord, rope, or similar material, the lower ends of the rigid portions being split or quartered, as shown at 8, to receive the upper ends of the flexible portions. Thus the pendent warning devices comprise upper rigid portions or members and lower flexible portions or members, the lengths of the lower and upper members being about equal, so that the flexible portions cannot be caught and held out of their operative positions.

The manner above described of securing the flexible members to the rigidmembers, is preferred for the reason that it avoids the formation, at the joint, of a shoulder or other projection which might engage and hold the flexiblev member.

The object and operation of devices of this kind are too well known to require a detailed description herein, and therefore it will be sufiicient to state that the arrangement of my improved device is substantially like that of the forms now in common use, except that the cap or cross-bar is arranged somewhat higher, in order to allow space for the rigid members of the arms.

Various changes in form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the class described, a supporting-frame and pendent arms having upper rigid members and lower flexible members, substantially as specified.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame having a cross bar, of rigid pendent arms, and ropes or cords connected to their lower ends, substantially as specified.

3. In a device of the class described, the or quartered ends, substantially as and for 10 combination with a supporting frame, of rigid the purpose specified. arms and flexible members or extensions, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as equal in length to the arms, substantially as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in specified. the presence of two witnesses.

4. In a device of the class described, the GEORGE WASHINGTON THOMPSON. combination witha supporting frame, of rigid Witnesses: arms slitted or quartered at their free ends, GEORGE WALTON BURGIN,

and cords or ropes engaged in the said slitted JOHN ALLISON. 

